Total synthesis and confirmation of the absolute stereochemistry of semiviriditoxin, a naphthopyranone metabolite from the fungus Paecilomyces variotii

The first total synthesis of (S)-semiviriditoxin 2 is described. The approach utilizes a tandem Michael–Dieckmann reaction between ortho-toluate 5 and dihydropyran-2-one 6 to construct the naphthopyranone core, the dihydropyran-2-one 6 being prepared from (R)-1,2-epoxy-4-butanol. Spectroscopic comparison of synthetic (S)-semiviriditoxin 2 with (R)-semivioxanthin 3, prepared in four steps from (R)-propylene oxide, confirmed the (S)-stereochemistry of natural semiviriditoxin from Paecilomyces variotii.